Monday

Speaking at the 30th Lagos International Trade Fair over the past
weekend, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige,
announced that the Federal Government will create about 490,000 jobs
through its recently launched Smart Farmers ICT platform.

According to Vanguard, the former governor who spoke with the theme: ”Positioning the Nigerian Economy for Diversification and Sustainable Growth,” urged Nigerians to embrace positive change towards job creation in a bid to turn around Nigeria’s fortunes.

Ngige who also stated that the government is determined to fight unemployment, said;

“Prior to the discovery of oil in Nigeria, the bedrock of the
economy was agriculture. At independence, agricultural accounted for 70
percent of GDP. 25 years after independence, we experienced an ugly
reversal with food items accounting for over 50 per cent of imports.

“When we say agriculture holds the key to effective, functional
and sustainable economic diversification, we are sure of our
convictions,” the Minister said.

Recall that a Media aide to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo,
Laolu Akande, had recently disclosed that 200,000 graduates had been
employed by the Federal Government to work as teachers and agriculture
extension workers across the country.